John Joseph McLaughlin (March 29, 1927 – August 16, 2016) was an American television personality and political commentator. He created, produced, and hosted the political commentary series The McLaughlin Group. He also hosted and produced John McLaughlin's One on One which ran from 1984 to 2013.

After leaving the White House, McLaughlin worked with his wife Ann in public relations and in 1980 became a weekend radio host on WRC-AM in Washington, D.C. Eventually he was fired from that job.[5]

He then went on to write for the National Review and to host The McLaughlin Group, which premiered in 1982. The television show features four political commentators, usually two conservatives and two liberals, with McLaughlin seated in the middle.[2] His loud and forceful style of presentation was parodied by comedians and other commentators, most notably Dana Carvey of Saturday Night Live. McLaughlin enjoyed SNL's recurring McLaughlin Group sketches, even making a 1991 cameo appearance as the Grim Reaper in one of them.[6]

He was known for two catchphases: "Wrong!" used to cut off a panelist with whom he disagreed, and "Bye-bye!" used at the end of each episode of McLaughlin Group.[7]

McLaughlin also hosted the interview show John McLaughlin's One on One, first telecast in 1984, and ended in 2013.[8] Also from 1989 through 1994, he produced and hosted McLaughlin, a one-hour nightly talk show on CNBC.[8] For a short while in 1999, he hosted an MSNBC show, McLaughlin Special Report. The show was announced on January 22,[9] and its cancellation was announced on February 25.[10]

On August 23, 1975, McLaughlin married Ann Dore, his former campaign manager. She served as Secretary of Labor under President Ronald Reagan from 1987 until 1989. During this period, McLaughlin was sued for sexual harassment and discrimination by a former employee. He settled the suit for $4 million in December 1989.[11]

McLaughlin and Dore divorced in 1992.[12] McLaughlin married his second wife Cristina Clara Vidal on June 22, 1997.[13] The marriage ended in divorce in 2010.[14]

During the December 26, 2014, year-end awards episode, McLaughlin ended the show saying: "Person of the year: Pope Francis, especially now that he's told that animals can go to heaven. And Oliver is up there waiting for me."[15] Oliver Productions, Inc., is named after McLaughlin's pet dog [16] — a Basset Hound — and is seen in an animation as part of the brand logo shown at the close of each show. Oliver shared their Watergate apartment during McLaughlin's tenure as speechwriter for President Nixon.[17]

After missing his first broadcast in 34 years, McLaughlin died on August 16, 2016, at his home in Washington, D.C. of prostate cancer at the age of 89.[18] McLaughlin's last message to fans was August 13, when he explained he had missed recent tapings due to his poor health.[19]